Emiliano Mazlen, Shihan
Boston Chinatown Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate Club
Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate USA

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Step Into an Opponent's Space

Onegai-shimasu Hanshi, Kyoshi, Sensei, Sempai and Fellow Deshi,

At the recent Central Park workout, Hanshi emphasized that we step
into an opponent's space when stepping forward. More specifically, our foot
steps between our opponent's feet. Although the correction was given in
the context of yakusoku kumite, it applies to kata bunkai and, of course,
to actual application (including our visualization of it). The common
error in this regard is to step outside (rather than between) the opponent's
feet. We must also take care not to step too far into the opponent’s space,
since that would prevent us from delivering our technique properly because
it would be jammed. We should step strongly into the opponent’s space
and strike when the “ma-ai” (distance) is right for the technique.

Keep stepping forward properly.

Domo arigato gozaimasu Hanshi,
Emiliano Mazlen